Burner's Burning Questions

Week Eight Grades

Welcome to week eight questions and grades as the Redskins put forth an inspired and magnificent effort against their arch rivals from Dallas. The victory was highlighted by heroics from a multiplicity of players who refused to quit at a time when many had given up on the team. Feel free to offer your own grades, opinions, suggestions, and ideas. Also, we have some questions to close out this eighth week of action.

Let’s take a look at the grades.

Quarterback:
Colt McCoy quickly established himself as the number two in Washington. His skillsets are better suited to this offense than the less mobile Kirk Cousins. 25-30 for 299 yards in the Jerry Dome is nothing short of impressive. One interception is the only negative from Monday night.
Grade: A

Wide Receivers:
DeSean Jackson continues to put up impressive stats and is making his case for the Pro Bowl. Pierre Garcon added a clutch first down on the winning drive in overtime.
Grade: B+

Tight Ends:
Jordan Reed had the offensive play of the night during a critical drive. Niles Paul got it started early with a long catch and run. Logan Paulsen seems to be lost in this offense, but the two in front of him make up for any shortcomings.
Grade: B+

Offensive Line:
Greetings and welcome to the starting lineup Mr. Compton! Pass protection was good and run support was above average. This unit had one of their better games of the season.
Grade: B+

Defensive Line:
This group applied the pressure and opened multiple lanes for the linebackers to blitz often with positive results. The run game was very suspect, but the defensive line benefitted down the stretch as the Cowboys abandoned the run late in the fourth quarter and in overtime.
Grade: B

Linebackers:
The linebackers brought a bunch of heat all night long and were absolutely relentless. Key play after key play simply can’t be understated. Trent Murphy had a good showing for his first start.
Grade: A

Cornerbacks:
The corners had the best night of any unit. David Amerson had one of his best games of the season and Bashaud Breeland flashed signs of becoming a shutdown corner. Time will tell if these two players will become great bookends in the secondary.
Grade: A+

Safeties:
Brandon Meriweather had his best game of the season and it seems as if he has learned the lessons of the past. Ryan Clark was steady, but unspectacular.
Grade: B

Special Teams:
Tress Way pinned the Cowboys deep several times and when it mattered the most. Kai Forbath shined on kickoffs and was solid on field goals. Andre Roberts set a good tone early with a long punt return.
Grade: A

Coaching:
What’s not to like? The team was prepared to play for a full sixty minutes and the offensive and defensive schemes were a masterpiece. Delay of game infractions need to be mitigated – too many of these penalties can kill key drives. The team was firing on all cylinders and the game plan was solid.
Grade: A

Week eight passes into the history books. How would you grade each position and the coaching staff? What are you looking for in the coming week against the Vikings? Does the play of our defense in week eight leave you feeling a little more encouraged with this unit? Does it appear as if we have our cornerbacks of the present and future? Will Trent Murphy end Brain Orakpo’s tenure as a Redskin? On to week nine!

December 4, 2017
Head Coach Jay Gruden
On if thereâ€™s hope for TE Jordan Reed to return:
â€śThereâ€™s always hope [laughter]â€¦ Iâ€™ll leave that to the trainers and Jordan. Weâ€™ll see how he does.â€ť
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